Cardea Ladies win again

Cardea Ladies added another 3 points this weekend after beating Wisbech St Mary’s 4-2 in a wind affected game at Middletons Road.

Cardea got off to a good start and Laura Rudd scored the opener on 9 minutes after a corner from Naomi Hall. The attacker prodding in from 5 yards to beat the defenders on the line.

Wisbech had to fight hard against the wind to get any sort of possession in the game but were unlucky not to equalise when their striker shot just wide from the edge of the area. 2 minutes later, Wisbech managed to force ‘keeper Carlie Rudd in to a great save as they stated to get a foot hold in the game.

The Wisbech pressure didn’t last long though and it was 2-0 to Cardea on 21 mins. Laura Rudd pouncing on to a loose ball and beating 2 defenders before finishing calmly when through 1 v 1.

On 25 minutes it was 3-0 and roles reversed from the first goal with Laura Rudd turning provider. She managed to feed the ball out wide to Naomi Hall who cut inside and shot. The keeper seemed to think the ball was going wide and left it, only for it to go straight in at the near post.

The rest of the first half was fairy even with most of the game being battled out in midfield. Both Phoebe Browness and Courtney Coles had chances.

Cardea thought they had make it 4-0 as Coles had the ball in the back of the net after being played through on goal. The striker blasted her shot past the keeper only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.

HT 3-0.

The weather, which was bad enough in the first half, was now even worse as it started to rain and hail. The strong winds made it difficult for Cardea to clear the ball.

Wisbech managed to pull a goal back when the winger beat the Cardea defenders and cut the ball back to the edge of the area for the Wisbech captain who made no mistake and buried the ball in to the bottom corner.

On 55 minutes it was 3-2 as once again, the Wisbech wide players caused Cardeas back 3 some trouble. The winger crossed the ball from the edge of the box and the ball struck the arm of debutant Megan Purnell. The referee immediately awarded Wisbech the penalty which was well taken into the corner of the goal.

Cardea now looked to be getting nervy and lots of passes were being intercepted as Wisbech tried to pile on the pressure.

With Cardea looking for someone to step in and take control Rudd got the ball in midfield and ran at the opposition, committing 3 of them before being pushed out wide, she managed to dig out a forward pass and in the process, fell in to spectators and on to the brand new tactics board. Courtney Coles worked hard and managed to get to the ball just before the Wisbech ‘keeper and poke it to Phoebe Browness to blast past the 2 covering defenders. 4-2.

With 20 minutes to play and the wind still affecting the game, Cardea looked to hold on and protect their lead. Phoebe Browness worked her socks off all over the pitch to win the ball back, the striker popping up with 2 important interceptions on the edge of her own area to stop Wisbech getting another shot off.

The game finished 4-2 and it was Phoebe who was awarded WOTM for her hard work, grit and desire in the later stages. The result sees Cardea move 7 points clear of Wisbech St Mary’s in 4th, having played a game less.